Traveling Back through the Advocate archives: April 15

•Bay Shipbuilding Co. Monday opened up a big Christmas present it has held under wraps since last Dec. 23: a contract to build another sophisticated barge. The barge is being built for American Transport Leasing, which will use the vessel to distribute manufactured cement to 15 ports on the Great Lakes.

•Somewhat hesitant about costs, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council Tuesday locked in access to more than $5 million before taking the next step toward building a civic complex, police station, fire station and city hall at the Old School Park area.

•Assembly Speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo, would like to trade in his job in the state Assembly for a chance to represent Northeastern Wisconsin in Congress. The move, Gard explained, depends on U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, relinquishing the seat to run for governor.

•Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Dan Trelka won’t be moving anytime soon. Trelka was a finalist in Wisconsin Rapids, but the city commission selected Wood County Sheriff Kurt Heuer as its new police chief.

•If the city of Sturgeon Bay and Door County want a new bridge across the bay, they likely will have to pony up some of the money to build it. That’s the message from Frank Busalacchi, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

•At the movies: “A Lot Like Love” with Amanda Peet and Ashton Kurscher and “The Interpreter” with Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn.

•Levels of PCBs, chemical toxins, in some Lake Michigan sport fish have dropped dramatically since the 1970s.

•After suffering burns in a Mexico explosion, Victor and Mary Ellen Marquez need help to support their Egg Harbor family while they recuperate.

•After a closed meeting, the Gibraltar School Board voted to accept the low bid for a proposed auditorium.

•The Sturgeon Bay Common Council voted 5-4 to set a first-time $2 a day fee for residents and an annual pass fee of $10 to launch at municipal boat docks.

•The Ridges Sanctuary of Baileys Harbor has hired a new administrator/chief naturalist to replace its present administrator, Roy Lukes, as of Sept. 1. Chosen was Paul Regnier, who for the past eight years has been working for the Warren County Conservation Board in Iowa.

•At the movies: “Ernest Goes to Jail” with Jim Varney and “The Hunt for Red October” with Sean Connery.

•Births: sons to Larry and Brenda White, Forestville, April 10; Brian and Michelle DeGrave, Brussels, April 18; daughters to Stephen and Kathryn Jensen, Sturgeon Bay, April 13; Robert and Christine Wagner, Brussels, April 17; James and Deborah Jordarski, Sturgeon Bay, April 18; Edward and Diane Leist, Sturgeon Bay, April 18.

50 Years Ago

April 20-22, 1965

•Three Ellison Bay men took a dunking last week when the snowmobile on which they were riding plunged through the ice on Green Bay in 100 feet of water. Earl Anderson, Al Ash and Warren Wiegand survived the incident without serious injury.

•George Schmelzer was re-elected president of the City Council in Sturgeon Bay. He has held the position since 1952.

•Joseph Writt will be the new recreation director for Sturgeon Bay. He has a degree in education from Oshkosh State College and will earn a salary of $5,040 per year.

•A heavy snowfall Saturday quickly turned to water under the persuasion of an especially bright sun. Snow depths varied between 3 and 4 inches.

•Lawrence Johnson was elected to his 11th and final term as chairman of the Door County Board Tuesday. The finality was confirmed by Johnson himself, who said he will not seek further office at the end of his term.

•Rural fire restrictions go into effect Friday, and permits must be obtained to burn anywhere in the county. The hazardous conditions posed before the “greening up” of the vegetation are responsible for the requirements.

•“Camelot” will be the theme of Sturgeon Bay’s junior prom with Suzi Ostrand and Mike Gilson as reigning queen and king.

•Births: a son to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Jennerjohn, Sturgeon Bay, April 15; a girl to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Perlewitz, Sturgeon Bay, April 18.

Licensed to wed: Bernard Simonar and Marian Londo, both of rural Sturgeon Bay, April 24; John Kellner and Sharon Fictum, both of Sturgeon Bay, April 24; Ernest Hayball and Rose Antoine, both of Chicago, May 8; Raymond Parasze and Gloria Zettel, both of Chicago, May 8; Glenn Peotter and Nancy Roscoe, both of Sturgeon Bay, April 24; Charles Alsteen and Marlene Retzlaff, both Brussels, May 1; Thomas Rosinsky, Manitowoc, and Sharon Kaus, Algoma, April 24.